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A friend of the man Mark Sanchez allegedly attacked is speaking out ... saying there's no way his buddy instigated the incident.

Gregg Keesling told FOX59 his longtime pal Perry Tole is a "very peaceful man ... He told me, 'Faith guided my hands to protect myself.'"

Gregg continued, "He didn't ask for this to come, and he's the type of person that would try to avoid it, yet he was left with no other option."

Mark, 38, is accused of attacking Perry, 69, in a hotel alley in downtown Indianapolis October 4.

Perry was reportedly driving a cooking oil recycling collection truck and reports indicate Mark was allegedly upset about the truck backing into the alley.

As you know, the former New York Jets quarterback was in town to call the Colts game versus the Raiders for

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